A Lesson From the Saints

Do you pay attention when you’re reading, listening, or watching and your whole being says “Yes!”, “I want that”, “Oh….. wouldn’t that be nice!”?

These soul urgings often come through as a feeling of expansion in your body, mind, or spirit. 

It may not be a heart calling for the exact details of what you’re looking at, but an invitation to explore its essence for what it is you truly want.

“Witness” from the Treedom Photography Collection

This happened to me during my recent trip to Ottawa.

I picked up a book on my parents’ shelf on the life of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. I’d seen several movies in preparation for my artist retreat in Italy in 2014, but this less romanticized book was based on recent revelations.  I was curious.

When I was a young child, I really liked a series of inspirational booklets on the saints.

I was impressed at how true to their Selves and Source these men and women had remained, often in the face of persecution.

These stories were building blocks on my lifelong quest to understand unconditional love.

What struck me the most about Saint Francis at the time was that he could speak to the animals, promoting harmony between humans and nature.

I remember my thrill when I later heard that the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York even welcomed an elephant during their annual Feast of Saint Francis blessing of the animals procession. Any saint that could fill a church with animals had my admiration!

But I digress…

Saint Francis’s prayer “Make me an instrument of Thy peace” is one I’ve had in my heart for as long as I can remember.

But then I also prayed God regularly that He not call me to become a nun…. I liked boys too much.

But I digress again…

“Contemplation” from the Connection Photography Collection 

If you’re not familiar with Saint Francis, he started an order based on compassion and caring service. His brothers walked the Earth bare foot to spread the word of Jesus, much like the first disciples did.

In this book, I learned that the original brothers’ nomadic lifestyle of service allowed for periods of up to 40 days in caves or hermitages for personal devotions.

That’s when my soul said “yes!”.

I long for regular blocks of times in nature or to hermit in my studio to paint and connect to Spirit without the Internet, appointments, and other social or entrepreneurial obligations.

I can get so overwhelmed by all the stimulus and noise (internal and external).

Checking emails and Facebook 20 times a day definitely isn’t healthy. It saps my energy and scatters my focus.

The soul urging I received while reading about the saints and their orders was a confirmation that I need to better structure my days, weeks, and months so that I can both be and serve in ways that nourish my soul.

As I’m still in the early years of figuring out how to not only survive but thrive as a full-time artists, this has been tricky.

Creating a life by design requires constant listening to our hearts, trial & error, and making adjustments.

So one of the many lessons I gleaned from my reading about Saint Francis and Saint Clare is that to be an instrument of the Creator’s peace, I need to ensure my own peace first.

By carving out uninterrupted times of connection in nature or in my studio sanctuary, I can better serve my clients.

So here’s your invitation.

“Dolphin Sky” from the Connection Photography Collection

Pay attention to when your soul urges you through that inner “Ah! Yes!” on any level as you go through your days.

Then explore the essence of those calls and take inspired action to bring you closer to your ideal Life by Design.

Namaste,

Dominique

P.S. Feel free to share some of your recent heart callings in the comments below.